DOS Notice of Campus Closure through March 08

Dear HIS Families, 

I hope this email finds you well despite the uncertainty due to this coronavirus outbreak.  While we continue to see very positive signs in the effort to contain the spread of the virus, and we understand that this epidemic may not have the same severity as previous flu outbreaks, we also continue with the ‘epidemic of uncertainty’, which has certainly impacted HIS families.  In such situations, we need to look for more stability and certainty for our community.  To this extent, while we have not been advised of further closure and to maximize the probability of a successful relaunch, we will not be reopening HIS prior to March 09.  To be clear:

HIS Campus will be closed through March 08 due to administrative decision.

As many HIS families might need to complete quarantine requirements before students return to class, we want to establish a ‘hard date’ when E-learning will be discontinued and when return to school is expected.  Current quarantine restrictions and travel difficulties make a strong start before March 09 a very uncertain prospect.  E-learning will continue to take place until we resume classes.  We have confirmed with the Hangzhou Education Bureau (HEB), Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) that our current E-learning program meets accrediting and authorization guidelines for schooling hours and days.

We believe this decision will provide families with more scope in their planning.  It is possible there will be an official government notice of further closure into March and we will be sending another update on Feb 20 or sooner.  However, HIS will not be opening its doors before March 09 even if legally allowed to do so before this date.

We understand that families will be wondering about their previous travel plans and school days. Reviewing the remaining calendar days for the school year, we have also decided the following:

• February 28 and March 27 will no longer be professional in-service days.  Feb 28 will be a school day for students via E-learning platform.  March 27 is planned as a regular school day.
• March 17 will be a regular school day and division Principals will be adjusting how Student-Led Conferences are done after school.
• We will keep the Spring Break holiday from March 30-April 03 (no school for students).
• We ask faculty and families not to make travel plans during our make-up days of April 11 and May 16.  We will announce any use of these days at least 14 days prior.
• The school year will end on June 18 as planned.

The administration and leadership teams are looking at different ways we can provide review, support and enrichment on non-school days, but these opportunities will not involve ‘required’ learning that places those who do not attend at a disadvantage.  We will be simply looking for more ways to strengthen schooling options that cannot be accessed via E-learning.

We hope these decisions give our community greater clarity and security during this difficult time.  As always, I appreciate your support, understanding and patience.

Finally, I want to simply state that I am so grateful that we are in a country and city that has demonstrated such incredible resolve to contain this outbreak.  I can think of no other country I have lived in or visited that would have such capacity.  A quick review of the history of virus outbreaks will show that these things can begin anywhere in the world.  I feel very safe for my family here in Hangzhou and I hope you are all well wherever you are.  I want to extend our support and sympathies for those most impacted by this outbreak, especially the people of the city of Wuhan and the province of Hubei. 

Sincerely,

Jeffry R. Stubbs
Director of Schools
Hangzhou International School

感谢大家在这个疫情爆发的非常时期还在一直关注学校的邮件。在过去的一周时间里，我们看到在政府各部门的努力下，疫情的传播得到有效地控制。尽管如此，疫情还是真真切切地影响到了HIS的大家庭。在这样的非常时间，我们还是想尽量给HIS的家庭成员尽量提供一些相对明确的信息。就现在情况而言，在我们没有接到进一步的通知之前，我们会定在3月9日开学。

学校从现在到3月8日都不上实体课。

我们了解到现在还有很多的家庭没有回到杭州，为了预留出足够的时间达到隔离的要求，我们需要制定一个确定的日期可以让大家做准备。从目前疫情的发展情况来看，暂定在3月9日开学其实还有许多的不确定因素。直到正式开课为止，线上教学还会继续进行下去。我们目前的线上教学符合认证授权的教学计划。

相信这个决定可以让许多家庭可以制定进一步计划。我们不排除政府部门稍后可能会发放进一步延期开学的通知。我们将在2月20日或之前再给大家一个确认。无论如何，按现在的计划看，就算政府部门允许在3月初开学，杭州国际学校的最早开学日期还是将放在3月9日。

我们理解有些家庭已经根据学校的日历规划了出行计划，就此我们决定作出以下调整：

• 2月28日和3月27日原定是老师培训日，现在改为学生上课日。2月28日会通过线上平台进行教学，3月27日学生正常上课日。
• 3月17日改为学生上课日，家长会将在放学以后进行。
• 我们会保留春假3月30日-4月3日，学生放假
• 我们会要求教师们和家长们在4月11日和5月16日暂时不要安排任何出行计划，我们会提前2周通知是否需要用到这两天来补课。
• 本学期还是会按计划在6月18日结束。
   

各位校长和各部门领导还在集思广益看如何能在学生不上课的日子里更好地为学生提供服务。我们将寻求更多的途径来加强那些不能通过网络学习获得学校资源的学生。

希望通过这封邮件可以让我们的大家庭成员们得到一些问题的答案并一起共渡难关。再一次感谢大家的支持，耐心与理解。

最后，我想表达对于中国，杭州及滨江的感激之情，在这个特殊的时期可以如此迅速地控制住疫情，这在我曾经工作和生活过的任何别的国家，别的城市都不可能做到。我和我的家人跟杭州人民一起渡过这一段非常时期，感觉到那种齐心协力，让我们觉得安全与感动。同时，无论HIS大家庭中的你们现在身在何处，我希望你们也一切安好。同时，我也想表达对这次受疫情影响最严重的武汉及湖北人民的同情，并愿意提供任何帮助。